USB Flash Drive Locked in Write Protect Mode

Ok, so I start off with a 64GB usb flash drive that has gotten itself stuck in write protect mode, still accessible, can still view the files on it.
First I do the regedit and delete the storage policy, no change.
Then I check discmanager, it shows up as a healthy exFAT formatted partition in disc manager.
Then I try format, unable to format.
Then I download this Driver Format Tool UFIX-II, now my before I run that my computer says I have to format the drive before I can use it and it doesn't show up in the drop down of UFIX-II.
There is no physical switch on the device for anything, it slides in and out of the cover but that's it.
I stripped it down to just the actual stick that does the work, saw nothing that looked like any capacitor or any such I've ever worked with before, just circuits on the board, an LED and the contact strips, saw no sign I recognized as anything shorting out, put it back together and it still says must be formatted before it can be used but when I try to format it, it says "Windows was unable to complete the format" followed by a second window that says
"Windows can't format G"
"Check to see that the disk and drive are connected properly, make sure the disk is not read-only, and then try again. For more information search Help for read-only files and how to change them."

Any further suggestions? I'd merely replace it, but I'm a small business without much in the way of disposable income yet.

vd> Ok, so I start off with a 64GB usb flash drive that has gotten
vd> itself stuck in write protect mode, still accessible, can still
vd> view the files on it.

Have you another system you can try to format it on, just in case it's
a local policy issue with the system that cannot format the drive. If
it's still the same, and also try using a Linux Live boot to see if
that can unlock it, then the probability is something has broken the
write mechanism inside the drive and you'll not be able to repair so
only solution is to replace. Any chance it's still under warranty?

FWIW - prices of USB flash drives have fallen through the floor so the
cost of a replacement 64Gb one might be less than you think and much
less than the cost of the one you have now !! Just checked my usual
supplier and 64Gb ones start at ???16 ( about $20 US !! ).

Most likely it's nothing you did and just a failure of the device.
They are pretty reliable but have seen a few go bad and no fix for a
bad USB device either (apart from messed up formatting but you've been
down that road already), all you can do is replace :-(

So, I had a flash drive that was my main info and fix it tool. I do keep copies and backups of info but this had some things not anywhere else and was the most updated. Well it died and was doing the same as your flash drive. I could not use it anymore. Could not format it, nothing. I still needed my info if I could get it. I found Easeus software. It was an 8gb drive and Easeus found 17 gb of data. 1/2 of which were repeats in a different format. But I was able to get my data off of it. You said you could still read it though? Just can't save anything on it? And if you can't format it well then it is no longer useful. I have many flash drives these days. I keep new ones around for clients. They do go dead. Just up and die. But mostly will happen if you do not 'stop' or safely remove it from the computer. Watch the sales, I just bought a 64 PNY for $25us. And picked up some 16gb for $10. Less money does not mean cheap. It means the prices are coming down for the technology.

Have had a trade account with these people for years and can't beat
them on price and range. I can also order up to 11pm for delivery next
day - including Saturdays now :-)

RC> Any one tried a portable SSD yet ? ( I am assuming they would come
RC> mounted in a case of similar size to a 2.5" portable, and be
RC> powered by USB ) Will they be more reliable than Normal thumb
RC> drives ?

Not tried one as a portable drive but due to motherboard issues with
the OCZ SSD I'm using for OS on my current system it runs via a USB
caddy and it's worked perfectly for years now. Might be a little
slower than it would be when connected direct to SATA ports but until
I get round to upgrading the motherboard it'll have to suffice :-)

As a portable drive for backup it would make a very robust device and
coupled with a USB 3.0 caddy ( and USB 3.0 port ) would be insanely
fast too !! However also eye-wateringly expensive ....

Well, I guess your usual supplier won't be an option for me, as I am in
the U.S.A. however it shows there are suppliers that offer in that price
range. I will just have to devote a bit of time to shopping when I get a
bit of time. Thank you all for your assistance.

PS I tested the download links (US and also UK) both shove a dialog in your face, saying the it ain't the latest, and offering a more recent download. That takes you to a Softonic download, which I did not complete. I suspect it is one of those download managers that other sites like to foist on us.
Normally I find Softpedia the safest source, so I am a bit surprised by that pop up offering.
It can be dismissed, which allows you to complete the Softpedia download, which I eventually did.

PPS All of that made me nervous (on your behalf), so I found my original download site - http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Tool/3000-2094_4-10974082.html
And would you believe it, now the same Softonic pop up appears, which can be dismissed, to continue the CNet download. Identical size to the Softpedia download, and they both do not match the one I have had on my hard drive for over a year.
Mine is called -
SP27608.exe
and is 1.7 (or 1.8) MB
The properties on mine says it is HP, but does not show a version number.
Actually mine was an installer, which placed 2 EXE's into a folder on my C drive.
I bit the bullet and scanned the Softpedia download (see my first links).
Scan was OK, and running it, it looks kosher.

( All of this can confuse the elderly, and the feeble minded, and I am both )

Copyright 1998-2015 Ziff Davis, LLC (Toolbox.com). All rights reserved. All product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Toolbox.com is not
affiliated with or endorsed by any company listed at this site.